While once originally targeting Sunday’s game against the Bruins for his return to the lineup, Pittsburgh forward Sidney Crosby now sounds like a guy resigned to getting back into a game later next week.

If Crosby’s looking for a less-physical game to make his NHL return for the first time since an eight-game stretch in November and December, he’s not going to get one any time soon. After the Bruins, the Penguins play the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers in their next three contests. However, between the Bruins and Rangers games the Penguins have three days off, so that would provide Crosby with the opportunity to go through more contact drills in practices.

For the Bruins, who seemingly face a team fighting for playoff contention every night, a Crosby-return postponement might be the best. The Penguins have been hot enough — they’ve won eight in a row — without getting the boost that would come from the return of the game’s biggest superstar.

The Bruins will face the Penguins one last time in the regular season April 3 at the TD Garden.